\n<\/p>\n
Earlier, Zimbabwe opened their campaign with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Oman thanks to an unbeaten 48 from Brian Bennett.<\/p>\n
Oman struggled with the pace and bounce of Zimbabwe’s attack at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo as they were knocked over for 103.<\/p>\n
Blessing Muzarabani blew away the associate nation’s top order with 3-16 and at 27-5, Oman were in danger of being bowled out for fewer than their lowest total in World Cups – 47 against England at North Sound in 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n But a 44-run stand between Sufyan Mehmood and Vinayak Shukla at least added some respectability to the scorecard for Oman, who are ranked 20th in the world.<\/p>\n Shukla top-scored with 28 off 21 balls while Mehmood ground out 25 off 39 deliveries as they were two of only three Oman players to make it into double figures<\/p>\n The other was Nadeem Khan, who hit their only six of the innings, en route to an 18-ball 20 before he was dismissed by superb diving catch in the deep by Bennett.<\/p>\n Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans finished with 3-17 and 3-18 respectively for the the Chevrons.<\/p>\n Zimbabwe, who failed to qualify for the last World Cup, made relatively light work of the run chase as they knocked off the total in 13.3 overs.<\/p>\n Mehmood winkled out Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion Myers in the same over – the second on review after a superb catch by wicketkeeper Shukla – to cause Zimbabwe a few nerves at 30-2.<\/p>\n But Oman were unable to make any further inroads as opener Bennett hit seven fours during a fluent knock off 36 balls.<\/p>\n The only sour point for Zimbabwe was when Brendan Taylor pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to retire hurt on 31 leaving skipper Sikandar Raza to hit the winning runs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n